STUDENT A: Mario

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Mario is 19 years old and from Cape Verde. He has been in the US for 1 year and 10 months. He is in SEI classes and speaks a good amount of English. He came to the US at age 17 to complete his schooling and attend college. In Cape Verde, he completed High School but did not take any English Language classes. His background knowledge of English comes from watching TV and listening to American music. He possesses BISC, and although he’s been in the United States for only a short time, he demonstrates a significant amount of CALP. He is one of the top students in the 10th grade and has a 3.5 GPA.

Mario has few siblings with a college experience but in his immediate family no one has a college experience or a degree. His mother attended high school but never graduated, and his father has a high school diploma.

STUDENT B: Xhorxhia


Xhorxhia (pronounced "Georgia") is fifteen years old and is from Albania. She immigrated to the United States in May of 2008. In Albania she attended school from first grade until sixth grade. When she arrived she was enrolled in 7th grade the following fall term. Xhorxhia has learned a lot of English in the four and a half years that she has lived here. She learned enough CALP to gain entrance into an exam school, where she is currently in the 10th grade and has a 3.0 GPA.

Xhorxhia's mother attended only high school in Albania, while her father attended post-secondary schooling and has a degree in Chemistry. However, neither of her parents speak English. She has younger siblings who also live in the United States and are enrolled in public school.